Study of radiological response to albendazole therapy in neurocysticercosis patients
Journal Title: MedPulse -International Medical Journal - Year 2017, Vol 4, Issue 4
Abstract
Introduction: Neurocysticercosis infection caused by the larval form of Taenia solium, is widely prevalent in developing countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. According to WHO it is the most common preventable cause of epilepsy in the developing world, with an estimated 2 million people having epilepsy caused by T solium infection. Aims and Objectives: To study the radiological response to Albendazole therapy in solitary neurocysticercosis lesion observed in patients from Jammu region. Materials and Methods: In the present study total 80 cases of neurocysticercosis with no neurologic deficit on clinical examination were selected. A detailed sociodemographic and seizure history was elicited and a complete physical and neurologic examination was performed in all patients and recorded on a prestructured proforma. Out of total 80 cases, 44 were having solitary lesion whereas remaining 36 were having multiple lesions. The 44 cases having solitary lesions were randomly divided in two groups. 1) Group A: treated with Albendazole therapy in addition to anticonvulsants 2) Group B: treated with anticonvulsants only. All the patients were followed up regularly for any complication. A 24-hour accessible telephone number was given to patients. Patients were advised to report back immediately in case of seizure recurrence or neurological complaints. After three months repeat CT was done and the findings were recorded. Results: It was observed that the mean age of the patients suffering from NCC was 27.75±8.43 years. The proportion of male and female was nearly same (52.5% and 47.5% respectively). Among 80 cases of NCC, 44 were vegetarians (55%) and 36 non-vegetarians (45%) out of which 24 were pork eaters (30%). Generalized seizures was reported by 27 cases (33.75%) of NCC, while focal seizures in 45 cases (56.25%). It was also found that most of the NCC lesions are solitary in nature and was observed in 44(55%) patients whereas multiple NCC lesions were found in 36 patients (45%). It was observed that among group A (i.e. Group treated with Albendazole therapy in addition to anti-convulsants), 5 patients (22.72%) showed complete disappearance of lesion, 4 patients (18.18%) showed decrease in size of lesion on CT scan and 12 patients (54.54%) showed no change at all in lesion size. Besides, 1 patient (4.54%) showed increase in lesion size. On the other hand, in the group B (i.e. Group not treated with Albendazole therapy), 4 patients (18.18%) exhibited complete disappearance, another 4 patients (18.18%) showed decrease in size while 14 patients (63.3%) exhibited no change at all on CT scan. The difference observed in outcome in both the groups was statistically insignificant. X2 = 0.09 (P=0.76). Conclusion: Thus in the end we conclude that albendazole was effective in managing 45.45% cases as compared to 40.91% patients treated with antiepileptic drugs only but the difference observed was statistically insignificant.
Authors and Affiliations
Haroon Salaria, Shazia Hamid
Keywords
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